
When can I start calla lilies indoors?
When can I start calla lilies indoors? Answer: Plant calla lily rhizomes 1 to 2 inches deep in a well-drained potting mix about 6 to 8 weeks before the average last spring frost in your area. After potting, water well and place the containers in a warm, 70 to 75°F location.
What time of year should you plant lilies?
- The name “lily” can be misleading because lots of other plants use it besides true lilies. ...
- Easter lilies can be planted in the ground in the spring. ...
- In a flower bed, lilies prosper in the presence of low-growing plants that protect the lilies’ roots from drying out.
When do you pull up Calla bulbs?
The best time when to dig calla lilies is right after the frost has killed the foliage. This will ensure that your calla lilies have stored all the nutrients they can to survive the winter. The next step in winter care for calla lily plants is after you dig them up, gently brush off any remaining dirt.
How to care for outdoor calla lilies?
Water
- If you would like your Calla Lily flowers to grow enormously, you must create certain requirements in your home.
- The easiest way to care for your Calla flowers is to maintain the soil damp at all times. ...
- For this reason, it’s essential and recommended to keep your Calla Lily hydrated at all times.
- Be sure not to overwater the Calla Lily. ...

Do calla lilies come back every year?
Many people treat their gift calla lilies as annuals. They receive a potted flower, or buy them for spring decorating, and then toss it when the blooms are done. In truth, though, calla lilies are perennials and you can actually save your potted plant and watch it bloom again next year.
Can you plant calla lilies outside in the ground?
Plant after danger of frost has passed in full sun or partial shade (partial shade is required in the South and warm inland areas of the West unless the soil is constantly wet) and rich moist soil. Rhizomes should be planted horizontally, with the growing points facing up.
How do you plant calla lily bulbs outside?
Choose a location with organically rich soil that holds moisture well. Callas grow well in low, moist areas where most other rhizomes would suffer from root rot. The plants tolerate full sun in areas with mild summer, but where summers are hot they need morning sun and afternoon shade.
How late can you plant calla lily bulbs?
Even though it is ideal to plant Calla Lily in the spring, it will not be too late to plant Cally Lily in summer for most zones. You should only plant Calla Lily if there is no threat of frost and it can be grown year-round in the warmer zones 8-11.
Do calla lilies grow better in pots or in the ground?
When blooming is finished, stop fertilizing. Calla lilies grow best in full sun to part shade. In containers, it is recommended that calla lilies be placed in a location where they can receive about six hours of sunlight each day.
Will calla lilies multiply?
Do calla lilies spread? Being a bulb, calla lilies spread by multiplying and creating other bulbs. These calla lily bulbs can be dug up and replanted in different locations. While these plants spread, they do so in a manner which is quite easy to control.
Can potted calla lilies be planted outside?
Calla lilies can be grown outdoors in containers during the summer and then brought indoors before the first frost in colder climates. They can also be grown indoors all year round in sunny locations that are kept at least 55 degrees F (13 degrees C.).
Should I soak lily bulbs before planting?
Soak the bulbs for an hour or two before planting if they are at all dry or soft. While this step is optional, it can help your lily bulbs root into the ground. Lily bulbs are corms, and don't have a true bulb protective coating. This allows them to dry out more easily than other bulbs like tulips and daffodils.
Do calla lilies need full sun or shade?
Care of calla lilies requires that they be planted in loose, well-drained soil. They prefer to be located in full sun or partial shade in warmer climates. Calla lilies are typically planted in the spring.
What month do you plant calla lilies?
springWhen to Plant: Calla lilies should be planted in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. In cold climates it's best to wait until the soil has warmed to at least 65°F. For a head start, you can plant the rhizomes in pots indoors about a month before planting them into the garden.
How deep should I plant my calla lily bulbs?
Plant calla lily rhizomes 4 to 6 inches deep in a full sun or part shade garden bed in spring. Larger rhizomes should be planted deep enough so the top of the rhizome is 2 inches below the soil's surface. Calla lily roots have growing points where new shoots grow from.
Can calla lilies be left in the ground over winter?
Calla Lily Winter Care in Warm Climates Calla lilies are not cold hardy. This means that calla lily winter care in some gardens will be different from other gardens. If you live in USDA plant hardiness zone 8 or higher, your calla lilies can survive the winter outdoors in the ground and do not need to be dug up.
Can I plant a potted calla lily in the ground?
Calla lilies growing in the ground should be dug up and the rhizomes stored in trays of just-moist compost for the winter, in a cool frost-free place. In late winter, repot the roots into moist compost and place in a warm spot to start into growth.
Will calla lilies survive winter?
Calla Lily Winter Care in Warm Climates Calla lilies are not cold hardy. This means that calla lily winter care in some gardens will be different from other gardens. If you live in USDA plant hardiness zone 8 or higher, your calla lilies can survive the winter outdoors in the ground and do not need to be dug up.
Where do calla lilies grow best?
A rich, moist, well-drained soil is best to keep calla lilies blooming. Calla lilies often do well growing alongside ponds and can happily tolerate a moist soil location.
Growing Calla Lilies Outside
Calla lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica) are a popular choice for container gardens. They can be grown as perennials in zones 8 through 10, only blooming several times during the summer months and then dying back naturally.
Growing Calla Lilies from Seed
It is easiest to start calla lily seeds indoors about six weeks before your last frost date, although you can also direct sow them outdoors after the last frost has passed. Sow the seeds into individual pots filled with a light, fast-draining potting mix until they’re about 1/4 inch below the surface of the soil.
Growing Calla lily in a pot
Growing a calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) in a pot is similar to growing it in the ground. Calla lilies grow well in partial shade. If you don’t have a site that provides this amount of shade, then place the pot by a north-facing window or under an overhang that blocks out most of the sunlight.
Tips for planting Calla Lily outside
To grow calla lily plants, purchase bulbs in the late fall or early winter. Keep them cool and dormant in a basement, garage or other cool place until spring.
Climate and proper weather condition for growing Calla lily outdoor
The calla lily is a herbaceous perennial plant native to the marshes of southern and eastern Africa. Most species of calla lily are tropical plants that prefer warm temperatures with a minimum temperature of about 50 degrees F. (10 degrees C.).
Diseases that may affect Calla Lily
Calla lilies are susceptible to fungal diseases that cause white spots on the leaves and brown spots on the flowers. If your plant’s leaves are yellowing or dropping off without signs of disease, it may be drought-stressed. Water your calla lily more often to help it recover.
Do callas need sun?
Choose a location with organically rich soil that holds moisture well. Callas grow well in low, moist areas where most other rhizomes would suffer from root rot. The plants tolerate full sun in areas with mild summer, but where summers are hot they need morning sun and afternoon shade.
Can callas be transplanted into pots?
In cooler zones, the rhizomes must be treated as annuals or dug up in the fall and stored over the winter in a frost-free area. When planted in water, the rhizomes can remain outdoors as long as the water doesn’t freeze at the planting depth. You can also transplant your callas into pots and grow them as houseplants.
Calla Lilies: Evergreens
Do not allow the tuber to freeze. Hard to grow unless in protected containers and/or indoors during winter.
Calla Lilies: Hybrids
Do not allow the bulb to freeze. Hard to grow outdoors unless in protected containers and/or indoors during winter.
Lilies: Asian, Trumpet, Tiger, Species
Do not allow the bulb to freeze. Hard to grow unless in protected containers and/or indoors during winter.
Lilies:Orientals, Orienpets
Do not allow the bulb to freeze. Hard to grow unless in protected containers and/or indoors during winter.
Where do calla lilies grow?
Calla lilies are native to southern Africa, found in South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. They have naturalized in other areas of the globe. They are considered invasive in Australia and New Zealand. The plants are perennial in zones 8 – 10. In colder growing zones (3 – 7), they are grown as annuals.
When to repot calla lily?
Cut back on your watering and allow the plant to dry and go dormant. This is normal behavior. Then in late February, repot your rhizomes into fresh soil and begin watering again.
What are Calla Lilies?
Calla lilies ( Zantedeschia aethiopica) are not actually lilies. They are arums, related to plants like peace lilies (also not true lilies), jack-in-the-pulpits and caladiums. Calla lilies are native to southern Africa, found in South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. They have naturalized in other areas of the globe. They are considered invasive in Australia and New Zealand.
What do the bumps on a calla lily look like?
Calla lily rhizomes look like flat discs. They have a top and a bottom. The top has “bumps” on it. The bumps are like the eyes on potatoes. The bumps are where the plants will grow from. Always plant your rhizomes with the bumps facing upwards.
Do calla lilies need fertilizer?
Calla lilies don’t normally require fertilizer, but if you want to add some to your garden, a slow release fertilizer is handy if you don’t want to fertilize every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer. Use a fertilizer that is especially formulated for flowers.
Can calla lilies cause diarrhea?
Calla lilies contain calcium oxalate, a toxic irritant. Eating the plant results in swelling of the lips, tongue and throat. It can also cause stomach pain and diarrhea.
Can calla lilies be grown indoors?
Gardeners in colder climates either plant new bulbs each year or dig up their bulbs in the fall and store them indoors during the winter. Calla lilies can also be grown as house plants. Calla lilies grow from rhizomes. The leaves grow directly from the rhizome, rather from a stem. The leaves are dark green and sword shaped.
How to keep calla lily bulbs in pot?
Remove dead leaves and store the bulb in dry soil or sand. Make sure it stays around 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 21 Celsius). Replant the bulb outdoors in the spring. If you do keep your calla lily year round in a pot and it begins to decline, producing fewer flowers, you may have a case of crowded rhizomes.
What is a calla lily?
Image by standret. The beautiful calla lily, with its elegant, trumpet-shaped blooms is a popular potted plant. It is especially a top choice for gifts and if you find yourself having been gifted one, you may be wondering what to do with it next.
Can calla lilies be grown in zone 8?
You can rely on calla lily hardiness through zone 8 or maybe 7 at a stretch. If you live somewhere colder, you will need to bring your plant indoors for the winter. One solution is to keep your calla lily potted.
Will calla lilies come back?
Will calla lilies come back? It depends on how you treat your plant and where you put it for the winter.
Is a calla lily perennial or annual?
Calla lilies are perennials, not annuals, and with just a little extra effort you can enjoy your flower year after year. Printer Friendly Version. This article was last updated on 07/20/20. Read more about Calla Lilies. < Previous Next >.
Are Calla Lilies Annual or Perennial?
Many people treat their gift calla lilies as annuals. They receive a potted flower, or buy them for spring decorating, and then toss it when the blooms are done. In truth, though, calla lilies are perennials and you can actually save your potted plant and watch it bloom again next year.
How Long Do Lily Bulbs Take To Grow?
About a week or two after planting lily bulbs, you can expect them to have grown roots already.
When do oriental lilies bloom?
This could be anywhere between June and August. Again, you can prolong the blooming season by planting different kinds of lilies. Tiger lilies are the ones to bloom last.
How tall do trumpet lilies grow?
They can grow up to six feet tall and produce larger blooms than their Asian counterpart. Following appropriate growing techniques, you can also choose to grow LA hybrids, trumpet lilies, and tiger lilies. To stretch the blooming season from summer all the way into early fall, plant different lilies together.
How to keep lilies moist?
Promote ideal conditions by applying mulch around the plant. This will ensure a moist but not wet environment that lilies prefer.
Why do lilies grow in cuttings?
Simply because the stems are where the plants’ foliage is, which they need to make food, generate energy, and grow flowers next year. While you can plant and grow lilies for cutting, treat them as annuals instead of perennials. This means growing them only until the end of the season.
What is the best zone for lilies?
Among the numerous lily varieties, Asiatic lilies are the most cold-hardy, even surviving in areas tagged as USDA Zone 3. Oriental lilies prefer full sun but can also thrive in less-than-ideal conditions. They can grow up to six feet tall and produce larger blooms than their Asian counterpart.
What is the key to growing plants outdoors?
The key is providing the plants with growing conditions similar to if they were planted outdoors.
How much water do calla lilies need?
Callas require about 1 inch of water weekly during the summer, or enough to keep the top 6 inches of soil moist. Water once or twice a week deeply so the moisture penetrates the root zone. Warnings. Calla lilies can become invasive in some areas.
What is a calla lily?
The showy, low-maintenance calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) is perhaps the most commonly cultivated Zantedeschia species, known for its waxy white flower spathe and brilliant green foliage. It thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8b to 10a, where it is used as an ornamental in garden beds and moist areas of the garden where other plants may fail to perform well. According to North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension, calla lilies propagate easily from rhizome divisions, which can be divided in late summer for replanting in spring. The process of replanting calla lilies is simple to do, but it is vital to choose a location with good growing conditions to get the most out of these eye-catching ornamentals.
How to cut a calla rhizome apart?
Brush the excess soil from the rhizome. Examine the rhizomes and cut them apart where they connect with a sharp knife so each rhizome piece is at least 4 inches long and contains roots. Calla rhizomes form on top of each other and are connected by thinner areas that are easy to cut through.
How to keep callas from weeding?
Dissolve 1 1/2-tablespoons of soluble 5-10-10 fertilizer in 1 gallon of water. Water the replanted call as with this solution until the top 6 inches of soil feels moist. Apply 2 inches of mulch to help retain so il moisture and prevent weeds.
How to grow a flowering plant in a garden?
1. Spread 2 inches of compost over a moist but well drained garden bed. Select a bed that receives full, all day sunlight for best flowering, although the plants can tolerate some light afternoon shade. Turn the compost into the top 8 inches of soil with a spade.
Can calla lilies survive outside?
Calla lilies will not survive outdoors year-round anywhere north of USDA hardiness zone 8 without significant protection. In most areas, these showy tropical plants are treated as annuals and are left to die back with the frost, but they can also be lifted, divided and overwintered in colder climates by bringing the rhizomes indoors. It’s a somewhat labor-intensive process due to the size of most mature calla lily plants, but it is otherwise simple to do.
